Jacolby Criswell injury update: North Carolina QB's current status revealed by ESPN sideline reporter

During the Fenway Bowl against the Connecticut Huskies, North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Jacolby Criswell took a punishing hit, which forced him to leave the contest. And things do not appear to be getting better.

The quarterback scrambled for seven yards on 2nd & 16, taking a blow at the end of the play and staying down with which seemed to be an injury to his shoulder. After a commercial break, Criswell — not moving his arm — walked back to the locker room, while backup Michael Merdinger replaced him under center.

Afterwards, ESPN’s Coley Harvey provided an update on Criswell’s condition: “I can update quickly on what’s going on with North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell,” Harvey stated. “He is not going to be on the field for right now. He is still in the locker room, I’m told, getting evaluated. X-rays on his upper-body injury. Still unclear what the issue is, but Criswell is not on the field right now, and might not be for some time.”

While it looks like Criswell’s afternoon is over, perhaps he could gut it out if the game remains close. The Huskies are off to a roaring start, and North Carolina is missing their starter at the moment, but they’ve kept it competitive.

Moreover, Criswell is in his fourth season with the Tar Heels and his fifth season of college football overall after spending 2023 with Arkansas. All told, the quarterback passed for 2,452 yards and 15 touchdowns to six interceptions in 2024, while rushing for 96 yards and three touchdowns, as well.

On the other hand, Merdinger hasn’t thrown a pass yet in 2024 until he replaced Criswell after his injury. Perhaps he can shock the Huskies and deliver North Carolina a memorable win in the Fenway Bowl, but it’ll be a trial by fire.

Merdinger, a native of Fort Lauderdale, actually entered the transfer portal earlier this week, but he decided to stick around for the Fenway Bowl. He played high school football at Cardinal Gibbons. He was the No. 918 overall recruit there as a three-star prospect in the 2024 cycle.

Additionally, Merdinger was also rated as a Top-60 QB in the class and a Top-150 player in the state of Florida. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He joined UNC then as one of the signees in a Top-30 recruiting class for them last cycle.